Ozymandias Summary & Analysis by Percy Shelley (Soe)

Summary

The speaker of the poem meets a traveller who describes two large stone legs of
a statue, which lack a torso to connect them, and which stand upright in the
desert. Near the legs, half-buried in sand, is the broken face of the statue, which
has a commanding, haughty sneer. The statue's facial expression shows that the
sculptor understood the emotions of the person the statue is based on, and now
those emotions live on, carved forever on inanimate stone. The words inscribed
on the pedestal of the statue say: "My name is Ozymandias, the King who rules
over even other Kings." Surrounding the remnants of the large statue is a never-
ending and barren desert, with empty and flat sands stretching into the distance.

Themes

Shelley's poem "Ozymandias" describes the ruins of an ancient king's statue in a

foreign desert. The statue has two "vast" stone legs standing upright and a head
half-buried in sand, along with a boastful inscription describing the ruler as the
"king of kings". The inscription stands in ironic contrast to the decrepit reality
of the statue, underscoring the ultimate transience of political power. The
speaker relates a story about the ruins of a "colossal wreck" of a sculpture
whose decaying physical state mirrors the dissolution of its subject's power. The
statue's pitiful state undercuts the bold assertion of its inscription, suggesting
that no amount of power can withstand the merciless and unceasing passage of
time. The speaker follows the king's declaration found on the pedestal of the
statue with the line "Nothing beside remains." Ozymandias had believed that
while he himself would die, he would leave a lasting and intimidating legacy
through everything he built, but his words are ultimately empty, as everything
he built has crumbled and the people and places, he ruled over are gone, leaving
only an abandoned desert whose "lone and level sands" imply that there's not
even a trace of the kingdom's former glory to be found. The poem uses the
example of Ozymandias to make a broader statement about the ephemeral
nature of power and to critique tyranny. It evokes the image of a cruel leader
and suggests that such tyranny now only exists on the face of a dead and
crumbling piece of stone. The poem also alludes to an actual ancient empire and
an actual king, reminding readers that history is full of the rises and falls of
empires and that no power is permanent, regardless of how omnipotent a ruler
believes himself to be.

Analysis

The poem Ozymandias by PB Shelley discusses human mortality and illustrates

how fleeting pride and ego are. Everyone must pass away and experience the
same fate. The rulers, however, disregard this universal truth and believe
themselves to be powerful and invincible. The poet discusses Ozymandias, a
Greek name for Ramesses II, the Egyptian ruler, in this sonnet-style poem. He
had a huge ego and was extremely powerful. But eventually he had to pass
away, and now there is nothing left. Even his sculptor has lost his composure.

Stanza 1

The poem starts out in the first person. The poet claims that he meets a traveller
from a distant land. Ozymandias was an Egyptian king, as was already
mentioned. This ancient land is therefore referring to ancient Egypt. The
traveller describes to the poet a dilapidated sculpture. He claims that two
enormous stone legs without heads are standing in the desert. A face that is
partially buried in the sand is located close to those two stone legs. The phrase
"shattered visage" in this context refers to the Supreme Power's crushing of ego.
The traveller's description of the face's appearance while it is still visible. He
claims that the sculpture's lips express anger and displeasure.

Stanza 2

The sculpture the poet describes next shows a sneer of cold command. Sneering
denotes disapproval. The phrase "cold command" conveys the severity of the
person's orders. Sneer of cold command is the collective term for the ego,
haughtiness, and harshness of the ruler. All of these expressions indicate that he
will likely be very conceited, vindictive, and egotistical, believing himself to be
the best and most powerful person. Take note of how his current state in the
desert has changed from how he was when he was alive! The poet claims that
the sculptor's passions and expressions depicted on the lifeless stone
demonstrate how perfect he was. He was able to accurately reproduce the
expressions on the sculpture's face thanks to the skills he had with his hands and
the inspiration of his heart.

Stanza 3

The words "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings, look at my works, ye

Mighty and despair!" were inscribed on the sculpture's pedestal. Ozymandias'
words accurately capture his character. He was a strong leader who frequently
crushed people. He was also very violent. All others had to fear and bow down
to him.

Stanza 4

The traveller claims that nothing is left, including himself, his ego, his rule, and
his harsh and violent rule. What is left there today is the wreckage, or large
sculpture, from that enormous wreck. The sculpture is ruined, broken, and
destroyed, and it stands by itself in the vast, empty sand that covers the entire
desert.

Literary devices
Metaphor: The poem contains one elaborate metaphor. Power, legacy, and
command are metaphorically represented by the Ozymandias statue. It makes it
clear that the king was once strong and all-powerful and clarifies the meanings
of the objects. The erosion of the statue's actual shape by the sand, which stands
in for the destructive force of time, is also demonstrated.

Personification: Personification is a literary technique in which inanimate

objects are given human emotions by Shelley. Two times in the poem, he uses
personification. The fifth line, "And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,"
alludes to the statue's disfigured head. On the other hand, Ozymandias's lifeless
statue is referred to as a real person. The second example appears in the poem's
sixth line, where the sculptor is instructed to "Tell that its sculptor well those
passions read," giving the impression that the statue is giving instructions on
how to carve or express its emotions.

Imagery: The use of imagery helps the reader experience the story through all
five senses. Two enormous, trunkless legs, a shattered face, a wrinkled lip, and
a desert are a few examples of visual metaphors the poet has used. The broken
statue's condition is made clearer to readers thanks to these pictures.

Alliteration: As in "cold command," "boundless and bear," and "lone and

level," alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds within a single
line of poetry.

Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within the same line.
Examples include the vowel sounds in "stand and sand" and "well and read."

Irony: Irony is a rhetorical device that contrasts two meanings of a word. In

spite of Ozymandias's portrayal of him as a powerful, enormous, and fierce
king, all that exists is a shattered, lifeless statue.

Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds such as /s/ in

"Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown".
Published in 1818, the queen’s gold medal for poetry holder Stevie Smith's
"Ozymandias" is a powerful poem that explores the theme of melancholy. Through
the use of vivid imagery, rhetorical devices, tone, and structure, Smith conveys a
sense of futility and despair that is both haunting and evocative.
The phrase "shattered visage" in this context refers to the Supreme Power's
crushing of ego
Sneer of cold command is the collective term for the ego, haughtiness, and
harshness of the ruler. All of these expressions indicate that he will likely be
very conceited, vindictive, and egotistical, believing himself to be the best and
most powerful person. “Power, legacy, and command” ~Metaphor
"And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command," alludes to the statue's
disfigured head; haughty ~ Personification
sixth line, where the sculptor is instructed to "Tell that its sculptor well those
passions read," giving the impression that the statue is giving instructions on
how to carve or express its emotions. ~ Personification
5 senses second lined~ Imagery
Last line ~ Alliteration
The traveller claims that nothing is left, including himself, his ego, his rule, and
his harsh and violent rule. Line 10,11,12 ~ irony
 The 2001 novel 'Life of Pi' is a story about the Protagonist, Pi Patel and handful of his zoo animals
struggling to survive after shipwrecked inhabitants on a little lifeboat don’t simply accept their fate;
they actively fight against it. Yann Martel, the author recalls writing this as a redemptional narrative
after the not-so earth shattering success of his first couple fictional novels in Canada. To completely
submerge himself into this new tale, he flew to Bombay with the little money he had left in an
attempt to salvage his writer reputation. Inspired by the air of Bombay, he learned about the variety
of religions practised in the city of dreams and, with the help of his narrative skills, wrote a
masterwork of fiction.

Q1) Religion is of utmost importance to Pi. Discuss the role of religion in his life and how it
helps him survive his ordeal.

Ans: Religion is crucial to Pi’s survival because it lets him understand that he has to coexist with
other creatures. It leads Pi to accept that even if he does not survive, he would get redeemed. It
gives Pi hope for survival. Pi almost gives up on the sea, but prayers let him gain hope, "I was
giving up. I would have given up-if a voice hadn’t made itself heard in my heart. The voice said, 'I
will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they
are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn a miracle into a routine. The amazing will
be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, as long as God is with me, I will
not die. Amen.'".

Although Pi places emphasis on science, religion is used throughout the book and serves as a source
of strength for Pi. When Pi stays on the lifeboat and hopes for being rescued, he keeps busy with
daily rituals. Pi prays more than he does anything else on the raft. He considers prayers just as
important as any other physical preparation. Religion is Pi’s emotional anchor, it gives him a sense
of belief and hope for survival. Therefore, religion is significant in Pi’s life.

Pi's religious journey began with his birth, as he has been a devout Hindu since infancy. Pi will
never stop believing in Hinduism because it taught him to appreciate the beauty in his surroundings
and in the world. Pi even saw the beauty in the ferocious tiger with whom he survived his adventure
at sea. Pi came across his next religious belief while walking past a Christian cathedral. He went in
expecting to be told to leave, but instead found a priest who listened to him and explained the
religious message of Christianity to him. Pi was moved by the way Christians revered God and
decided to be baptised. This helped Pi deal with the difficulties outside the lifeboat by enabling him
to view his suffering as a spiritual experience. Islam was the next religion Pi came across. When a
Muslim baker took a break from their conversation to go to prayer, Pi decided to ask the Muslim
baker to teach him how to pray. Another faith that Pi turned to during his suffering was Islam,
which also taught him about "brotherhood". As a result, Pi was able to deal with Richard Parker and
even turn him into a friend. Through this idea, Pi comes to appreciate the value of friendship and
even takes the time to make sure Richard Parker made it onto the lifeboat with him.

Pi continued to put his beliefs first while he was on the lifeboat. Pi celebrates a solo mass devoid of
bread and a priest in order to revere God through Christianity. Pi uses turtle meat as a Hindu
sacrifice to honour God through Hinduism. Pi continues to pray to Allah five times every day in
order to honour God through Islam, despite not knowing which direction Mecca is.

Pi is able to combine three religions that he respects and extract many of their core principles. He
can survive in the lifeboat and recover from the trauma he has suffered as a result of the "adventure"
at sea, thanks in large part to the contributions made by all three religions, both individually and
collectively which also helped Pi find a lot of tranquillity, peace and hope in doing...

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel weaves a mesmerizing tale that explores the
complex relationship between religion and storytelling. The novel follows Pi
Patel, a young Indian boy stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a
Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi's survival story is narrated through
three different versions, each rooted in a different religious perspective—
Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.

At its core, "Life of Pi" suggests a profound connection between religion

and storytelling. Religion, in many ways, can be seen as a form of
storytelling. It provides a narrative framework that helps individuals make
sense of the world, their existence, and the events that unfold around them.
In the novel, Pi adopts the tenets of Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam
simultaneously, showcasing the human tendency to construct stories that
provide comfort, meaning, and purpose.

The relationship between religion and storytelling is not merely

coincidental; it's intrinsic. Both serve as powerful tools for humans to
comprehend and convey the complexities of existence. In the case of "Life
of Pi," storytelling becomes a coping mechanism for Pi as he faces the
harsh realities of survival. The narrative helps him find solace, create
meaning, and maintain his sanity in the face of adversity.
Moreover, the novel suggests a theological dimension to storytelling. Pi's
simultaneous adherence to multiple religions challenges the notion of
religious exclusivity and highlights the universality of storytelling as a
means of exploring and expressing the divine. The narrative becomes a
bridge between different religious traditions, emphasizing the shared
human experience that transcends religious boundaries.

In essence, "Life of Pi" underscores the idea that religion and storytelling
are intertwined. They both serve as ways for individuals to navigate the
complexities of life, grapple with existential questions, and find purpose
and meaning. Through Pi's journey, the novel invites readers to reflect on
the transformative power of storytelling and its capacity to transcend
religious, cultural, and individual differences, ultimately fostering a deeper
understanding of the human condition.